If you love Cole Porter's music, rich, cognac vocals,
sexy theatricality, classy, high society anecdotes, top of the line music and orchestrations,
a glass of wine, and an intimate setting, then rush to The Triad, on West 72nd Street,
for Stevie Holland's new Wednesday night show, "Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole
Porter". Stevie Holland's cabaret show is the best I've seen in years, a combination
of well known and lesser known Cole Porter tunes, an inside and respectful view
of the romance and turmoil of the Porters, and a smoothly narrated drama, as Ms.
Holland personifies Linda Porter, with all her amusement and anguish. She sings
Porter's songs in arrangements created by husband-arranger-orchestrator, Gary William
Friedman, and this duo has created one swell show. After seeing this show, you'll
be inspired to put on your pearls and little black dress, or, if you're a man, a
tux and white tie, and spend a night on the town, with champagne, repartee, and
a lively foxtrot.

Ms. Holland's Cole Porter repertoire ranged from "I Love Paris", sung with sultry
poignancy, enhanced by bass and cymbals, "Miss Otis Regrets", "In the Still of the
Night", "Love for Sale", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", "My Heart Belongs to
Daddy", sung with torch song crooning, "Night and Day", in an upbeat tempo, "Wunderbar",
and "When a Woman's in Love". Each song in this intermission-less, slightly over
one-hour show, was lovingly woven into Ms. Holland's fascinating narrative of Linda
Porter's relationship with Cole, Cole Porter's Broadway shows and films, and their
personal and professional setbacks and successes. There were tales of Paris, told
lovingly, with details that drew us in. Yet, Ms. Holland did not sugarcoat Cole
Porter's demons, including his domestic abuse, his alcoholism, his infidelities,
and his physical handicaps. She also focused on the life-long bond of this couple,
despite estrangements, lost trust, a lost pregnancy, and a crippling accident.

Most importantly, Ms. Holland never came out of her role. She was Linda Porter throughout,
with two vases of red roses, a grand piano and band in the background, a long, black
slinky dress and pearls, and a glass of champagne. The band is jazzy and improvisational,
the vocals are expressive and lyrical, the narrative is humorous and heartbreaking,
and Ms. Holland is stunning and charismatic. You can get more information on this
Wednesday night show by calling 212.352.3101. Kudos to Stevie Holland, and kudos
to Linda Porter.